Having already picked the next fights for the main and co-main event fighters of UFC Vegas 99, TSN writer Val Dewar now turns to the rest of the main card, beginning with the winners. Who will they face next as they continue their UFC careers?
Charles Johnson
After beating Chinese kickboxer Sumudaerji in the featured bout of UFC Vegas 99, former LFA flyweight champ Charles Johnson steps into the UFC rankings for the first time, slotting in at fifteenth.
The most logical opponent for his next outing would be Matheus Nicolau. These two fighters both fought three full rounds, but did not take massive damage, and should be ready to fight again at similar times, though maybe Johnson wants to take one more fight before the end of the year to keep being the most active fighter in the UFC.
Nicolau is on a three-fight losing streak after being on the cusp of a title fight in 2022, while ‘InnerG’ has won four in a row. No other option for either fighter could make more sense.
Next Fight: Charles Johnson vs Matheus Nicolau
Cameron Smotherman
With a big upset victory over a five-to-one favorite who had a 3-3 UFC record coming into the fight, Houston’s Cam Smotherman made the absolute most of his short notice UFC debut. However, he fought a former flyweight, albeit a talented one, and the rest of his fights in the bantamweight division will only grow harder.
Another fighter coming off their own first UFC win would be appropriate for Cam in his sophomore outing, somebody like Cody Haddon. Haddon beat Dan Argueta just one week before Smotherman beat Hadley, so their recovery periods should line up well. This potential bout would be a fun 135-lb prelim on any fight card.
Next Fight: Cameron Smotherman vs Cody Haddon
Darren Elkins
Somehow Darren Elkins at age 40 is still going strong, winning fights the same way he always has – with his grinding wrestling and ability to fight through any circumstances. He defeated Daniel Pineda, sending him into retirement at a mere 39 years of age.
Elkins is too diminished to fight the most dangerous unranked featherweights, but he is on a two-fight winning streak. Thus, a fight with someone else coming off a win – like Pat Sabatini, who beat Jonathan Pearce last week – is logical. These two skilled grapplers would make for a fun bout at 145-lbs, with excellent scrambles.
Next Fight: Darren Elkins vs Pat Sabatini
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